Is this foam core?

[patrickmurphwhite]

Hi all. I just bought a used Old Town Appalachian (Royalex) from a guy who said he applied gflex and epoxy to all old damage then painted it over with the most durable paint he could find. I lightly dragged the boat over a rock on my first trip and it resulted in the scrape in this picture. Is that the royalex foam core or is that epoxy? I’m trying to figure out if this old boat is just ready for the bin.

 

[memaquay]

Hard to say based on those pics, with that colour it cold be either. I'm speculating that because it is so smooth, it could be epoxy. In any case, it is very minor, any type of paint will scrape off easily.

 

[stevet]

Don’t think it’s foam showing. Looks like the plastic layer before the foam to me but certainly could be epoxy. Don’t think it’s much to worry about. Keep paddlin’!

 

[Gamma1214]

If you poke at it, is it spongy? Epoxy or the original hull will be hard but (I think) the foam would have a lot of give to it.

 

[patrickmurphwhite]

Thanks so much all. I’m gonna pray it’s epoxy and keep trucking.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Thanks so much all. I’m gonna pray it’s epoxy and keep trucking.

Even if it's epoxy or the ABS layer just under the skin, it's best to not leave it uncovered. On a gouge that size showing ABS, I usually skin over it with G-flex epoxy mixed with pigment to guard from UV damage. But at the very least, give it some paint. If it is the foam core, you should be able to dent it with your thumbnail. In that case, I would add a fiberglass/epoxy patch.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

BTW - enjoy that Appy! I hear it's a great river canoe, and especially good for poling.